Tasmanian Libs sweep to victory

Andrew Darby Hobart

The Liberal Party swept to majority government in Tasmania on Saturday, as voters rejected a divided Labor.

Will Hodgman has led the party to victory at his second attempt and will become the first Liberal premier of the state since Tony Rundle.

The Liberals appeared to have taken at least 14 of the 25 seats in the House of Assembly, according to election analyst Richard Herr. Labor was likely to win seven seats and the Greens four.

Ousted premier Lara Giddings was returned to Parliament, but her potential successor, David O'Byrne, looked to have been squeezed out by the size of the swing to the Liberals.

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''After 16 years, Tasmanians have voted for change and I congratulate Will Hodgman,'' Ms Giddings said.

''I'm proud to be part of this Labor government and all we've done.''

Ms Giddings admitted that it had been difficult to sell the message of Labor achievements, but her campaign was dogged by dissent within the party. Backbencher Brenton Best, who repeatedly voiced his disapproval of the party leader, said Labor should have broken an alliance with the Greens.

As he trailed in his own seat, Mr Best said: ''I had suggested [Ms Giddings] should have stood aside and if she had we might have had a different result tonight.''

Despite a costly campaign by billionaire party leader Clive Palmer, the Palmer United Party's vote fell short of the 2013 federal result that brought in senator-elect Jacqui Lambie in Tasmania.